IPL scandal: Six Indian players under scanner

New Delhi, Feb 11: Six prominent "Indian capped" players, including one who is part of the current team, are likely to face the heat for their alleged roles in fixing scandal with their names cropping up in the report filed on Monday before the Indian Supreme Court by a committee probing the Indian Premiere League (IPL) betting and spot-fixing scam.

In its report, the three-member committee headed by former Punjab and Haryana Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal, said that former BCCI President I S Bindra had also stated that he knew two former reputed Indian players who were allegedly involved in match fixing.

However, names of the players, whose roles are being probed, have been given to the apex court in a sealed cover.

The report said that a journalist, who was apparently connected with recording of tapes for a sports magazine, could identify the voice of the Indian player and he had also stated that the player was part of the team which played the world cup and a member of the team now.

"The journalist refused to disclose the names of the Indian players involved. In spite of repeated requests to put the name of the said player in a sealed cover for perusal before the Supreme Court, the journalist appeared terrified and was very reluctant to do so and pleaded that it would be dangerous for the journalist concerned," it said.

"It thus appears that names of six prominent Indian capped players are available in tapes in connection with dealings with bookies while two of these prominent Indian capped players have also been named by none other than a former President of BCCI," the report said.

The report, filed before a bench headed by justices A K Patnaik, also referred to the transcripts of the tapped conversation between two alleged bookies, Chandresh Jain and Ashwani Aggarwal, in which there are "references to high level fixing of players where the names of two international Indian players were mentioned."

The report also said that Delhi Police has disclosed that according to suspended Indian player S Sreesanth, who was arrested in connection with the case, three prominent Indian players were involved with the bookies.

It also said that according to Mumbai and Delhi Police, recorded conversations "indicate connection of some Indian and foreign players with betting activities".

The committee, also comprising Additional Solicitor General N Nagehswar Rao and Assam Cricket Association member Nilay Dutta, said that in an undercover probe carried out by a sports magazine, a "prominent Indian capped player was recorded interacting with the bookies".

The report also said former BCCI President I S Bindra has also made similar allegations and stated that he had always kept the Anti Corruption and Security Unit of the ICC in the loop.

"He stated that he knew another former prominent Indian player was involved in match fixing and was aware of his alleged involvement with bookies along with a former reputed Indian player," it said, adding former BCCI President Shashank Manohar has also stated that all matches in IPL need to be investigated.